Six New Mites of the Superfamily Parasitoidea

Abstract

Female. Color white; shoulders prominent; tarsi of all legs with pulvilli, that on tarsus I much smaller than those on other legs. Dorsal scutum roughly triangular, does not cover entire dorsal surface, is narrower posteriorly. Sternal scutum lies between coxae II, is about two-thirds as long as it is broad, and bears three pair of setae. Its posterior corners are not extended laterally as in L. cynomys Radford, which this species most closely resembles. Genito-ventral scutum possesses a poorly delineated anterior margin, and bears one pair of setae; anal scutum triangular, bearing three setae (Fig. 1). Chaetotaxy is distinctive because of presence of short, massive spurs located as follows: coxa II, one on lateral aspect, one on posterior aspect (Fig. 2); coxa III, two on posterior aspect (Fig. 4). No other prominent spurs or setae present, except for a tuft of small setae at the distal end of tarsus I (Fig. 3). About 32 small setae on the soft parts of the ventral surface; dorsal shield with about 18 pairs of short setae. Legs I and IV longer than legs II and III, which are about equal in length, leg IV longest. Measurements of type specimen: total length (to anterior margin of labium) 560Au, width (between legs III and IV) 288,. Male. The single male specimen, which was smaller than the female, also exhibited sexual dimorphism in possession of a single ventral scutum bearing six pairs of setae (Fig. 5). The dorsal shield differed from that of the female in that it was not as narrow posteriorly. This specimen was more weakly chitinized than was the female. Measurements of male: total